Why I’m joining the CEO sleepout tonight

Canberra is stunning in the winter – the frost, the fog on the lake, the trees changing colour. But, Canberra gets bitterly cold and for one night every year Canberran business leaders, members of the ACT Government and community leaders spend a night sleeping on the street to raise money and awareness about homelessness.

As the Minister for Housing, I am sometimes struck by Canberra’s contradictions. Canberra is a city that offers a great quality of life, wonderful natural surroundings and low unemployment. But in winter, and thanks to initiatives like St Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout, we are reminded that these opportunities are not equally available to all members of our community. Thousands of Canberrans for a range of reasons, are unable to find safe, secure and, most importantly, sustainable accommodation every day. As a Territory and as a community, I believe that is our responsibility to do all that we can to reduce this inequality.

In my time as Minister, I have been impressed by the efforts of the community sector and the government to reduce homelessness, and the different initiatives and services offered to support those who are already homeless. By working together, we have seen funding directed to the development of Common Ground. For some, Common Ground will provide an opportunity to break the cycle of unstable and insecure housing and homelessness, and offer permanent and supported accommodation for people experiencing long term homelessness in Canberra.

Last year, I was happy to support Columba’s Uniting Church in Braddon to open up their doors for a few nights each week in winter to people experiencing homelessness to offer a warm place to sleep and someone to talk to. I recently visited the Church, and it is great to see that volunteers are once again opening their doors.

However, under the Abbott Government, I have also seen a real reduction in funding and policy direction for both Housing and homelessness across the country. The ACT relies on these funding partnerships to deliver the services that many vulnerable members of our community need to get by day to day. I share the concern and uncertainty of the sector as we wait to hear what the Abbott Government’s next steps may be.

It is also clear to me that homelessness is both simple and complex – simple in that it is indisputable that the fabric of our society and our community is weaker for every Australian who does not have a safe and secure place to sleep. Complex, in that there is rarely a single cause or single factor that has lead to over 100,000 Australians experiencing homelessness all around the country.

The drivers and causes of homelessness may appear to be a straightforward lack of houses, but the reality is more complicated. Yes, we do most definitely need more public housing and more supported accommodation. But, we as a community also need to work hard to understand and offer the rights kinds of support at the right time. We must invest in family counselling, mental health interventions, financial assistance and increased employment and training programs and develop a more nuanced and resilient approach to homelessness in our community.

I’m pleased to support the St Vincent’s de Pauls CEO Sleepout, and I’m grateful that I get to go home in the morning. I can only imagine how hard it would be to not have a home to return to.

Ahh, speaking of drivers, I am one. I often get homeless people ride my bus, take a quick nap, usually on the seats above the heaters. Oh I know the regulars. Never any trouble, rather people try to trouble them. You’d be surprised at who some of them are. Yes there are the rough sleepers, the Anslie Village mob, but also workers, teenagers and the elderly. I‘ve had people nap on a run out from the city into the suburbs and back again right through to the driver change over or when I have to ask them off at the end of a run. Needless to say, I’ve not been too strict in checking the expiry of their tickets. They’re not going anywhere and I’ve never had an issue with them taking the seat of anyone.
It frustrates me that pollys are taking cheap shots at each other over this issue. Instead of complaining about what other pollys are not doing, tell us about what you are doing. I wish pollys would understand that mud slinging does not win them votes, they just cover each other with mud, it just annoys the public. This is too important an issue to be scoring points off of.
I do think that Shane is right in that there are many causes of homelessness. That is clear from those homeless that I see. Mental health seems to be a big issue. I suspect it is probably the number one cause of homelessness. Clearly even when there is housing available, some people just have so much difficulty doing the paperwork that they never get into public housing.
The lack of a living wage seems to be another big cause in this city. I know of people with a university degree, an APS job and they’re facing homelessness because illness means they can’t work full time. Others work in the service and fast food industries and are unable to afford rents. Share houses, sub standard housing and living in cars are the only options for them. I notice that the CEOs of the organisations two people I know, one homeless and the other about to be, both partook in the CEO sleep out, which was very noble, but they don’t pay some of their workers enough that they can afford to live here. It strikes me as hypocrisy to take part in the CEO sleep out, and yet to be part of the problem contributing to homelessness.
I know of many in the cleaning industry in particular that have tow work two jobs just to make ends meet. I know of APS2 workers that are being priced out of Canberra who have no chance of promotion thanks to the recruiting freeze. Maybe Shane should be taking that on board? He should be doing what he can to ensure there are liveable wages here.
Then there are the disabled and ill who have little chance at ever gaining worthwhile work who rely on public housing. There are some who have disabilities that have not prevented them from gaining good employment for sure, but for many with visible disabilities, ones which affect vision, mobility, brain function, speech and health, they may never get a real job. They may never have the income to afford private rental, let alone buying a house.
Lastly, there’s discrimination. Employers and real estate do discriminate. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen prospective new employees be turned down because they are African, because they looked gay, because they were transgender, because they spoke with a heavy accent, because all sorts of things. I don’t doubt it that these people also are discriminated by land lords and the rental industry. That’s another thing Shane needs to look into. Invest some dollars into an under cover investigation into discrimination in the private rental industry. Find an even number of diverse people and Anglos and get them to apply for housing. Then clean up the industry if obvious bias is found.
Finally, the focus to me seems to be on youth unemployment. Sure that’s important, but so are older people. Most of the rough sleepers I see are single older men. Clearly there needs to be a focus on them. I now youth may be couch surfing, but that is at least somewhere indoors to sleep. When your home is a bus seat for a few hours then on the ground for the rest of the night, in my eyes you’re a greater priority than a teenager sleeping on a couch at a mate’s place.
A lot more can be done to prevent homelessness.
But yeah, what would I know? I’m only a bus driver. I just talk to real people every day.

TheBusDriver has said it so well… What are you doing Shane to make it better for the homeless? If you all stopped blaming the other side for everything and actually did some work yourselves thing might improve.

The problem in Australian politics is that a Party never wins an election because of what they promise to do (because we know election promises are mostly lies and dreams) but elections are lost by the incumbents because they are either useless or portrayed to be.

It is sad that we vote for a side because “they can’t do as bad a job as the current guys” rather than “they are going to do an amazing job.”

Given that there are approx. 100,000 homeless people and the CEO sleepout raised $2.9 million in 2010, while impressive and appreciated, it’s a far cry from what is needed to really assist the homeless.

I wonder what the homeless think of the comfy CEO’s largely token gesture and will gummints get serious about tackling this ever growing problem?

Shane Rattenbury is a minister in the Labor/Green minority government, not the Chief Minister.
So, how come he is posing as a CEO?

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

Given that there are approx. 100,000 homeless people and the CEO sleepout raised $2.9 million in 2010, while impressive and appreciated, it’s a far cry from what is needed to really assist the homeless.

I wonder what the homeless think of the comfy CEO’s largely token gesture and will gummints get serious about tackling this ever growing problem?

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

Dung, the Canberra Ratepayers don’t pay for the buses that I drive, as I’ve pointed out in previous posts. Even if they did I doubt that many would begrudge a homeless person asleep on the bus, and if they do, well so be it. I know I’d rather a homeless person get some sleep and warmth over bowing to a Canberra ratepayer whod rather the homeless freeze.

The “drivers for homelessness” certainly are more complicated, apart from a lack of housing, as you correctly point out Mr Rattenbury.

Those must surely include :

1) Potential tripling of Annual Rates will certainly drive back up rentals – such increases are simply far too large for landlords to absorb for too long. Not to mention that even higher rents can be expected along the toy train set route, of course !

2) More probable loss making infrastructure “stimulus” projects like the toy train set will be a drain on the budget, so making Govt funded relief/assistance to the homeless, more problematic.

3) Instead of spending multi millions $ on more party centric MLAs, why not use those $ to help the homeless Mr Rattenbury ? The additional MLAs will certainly NOT help the plight of the homeless will they !

4) ACT Gov’t debt. Already M$300+ in the red before you went on the “stimulus” spend-a-thon. The extra debt and interest incurred needs to be paid back of course. How will that help the plight of the homeless ???

5) Rapidly increasing ACT Government charges on all fronts.

etc, etc, etc………

IMHO, the ACT Gov’t certainly isn’t doing as much as it should/can to help the plight of the homeless, so such shallow “headline grabbing” actions by ACT Gov’t Ministers, like participating in the CEOs sleep out, have a very, very hollow look I’m afraid. Except of course, that it draws a bit more attention to the plight of the homeless.

Shane Rattenbury is a minister in the Labor/Green minority government, not the Chief Minister.
So, how come he is posing as a CEO?

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

I actually agree with a lot of what you say on Riotact, dunfungus. But not this time.

Its a bit harsh telling someone that helping the homeless (or anyone for that matter) while carrying out their paid job, is not acceptable. This guy/girl is probably risking their job or a sanction by helping others in need. I’m sure as Ratepayers, we could all accept that.

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

Are you kidding me? I doubt they’re riding peak route buses in peak hours and really inconveniencing anyone.
I for one am glad that someone is getting something out of the diesel/gas used to run the big orange convenience machines demanded by those with jobs in the city who don’t want to pay for parking, even if that something is as simple as a warm seat for a few hours of shuteye.

Good on you BusDriver. It’s a small insignificant gesture on your part that makes a big difference to someone else.

Shane Rattenbury is a minister in the Labor/Green minority government, not the Chief Minister.
So, how come he is posing as a CEO?

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

I actually agree with a lot of what you say on Riotact, dunfungus. But not this time.

Its a bit harsh telling someone that helping the homeless (or anyone for that matter) while carrying out their paid job, is not acceptable.

This guy/girl is probably risking their job or a sanction by helping others in need. I’m sure as Ratepayers, we could all accept that.

I say good on you TheBusDriver – and thank you.

TheBusDriver has already stated that ratepayers do not underwrite the cost of free travel he allocates to people he judges to be down and out. Is this is code for he doesn’t work for ACTION or what?
If he doesn’t work for ACTION and the bus service isn’t his then whoever he works for is being ripped off. If he owns the bus then I will be the first to say “God bless him”.
I have often given a free ride (and a few bob) to people who are obviously in need. I have also been approached by dishevelled people in shopping centres asking for a few dollars to catch a bus to the next town centre. In every case I say “well I am driving there now so I can give you a lift”. The response is always expletive loaded abuse so I tend to be a bit cynical about some of these “homeless” people.
I notice those of you who critisize me on this issue haven’t explained why Shane Rattenbury has assumed the mantle of a CEO for an opportune publicity stunt.

Shane Rattenbury is a minister in the Labor/Green minority government, not the Chief Minister.
So, how come he is posing as a CEO?

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

I actually agree with a lot of what you say on Riotact, dunfungus. But not this time.

Its a bit harsh telling someone that helping the homeless (or anyone for that matter) while carrying out their paid job, is not acceptable.

This guy/girl is probably risking their job or a sanction by helping others in need. I’m sure as Ratepayers, we could all accept that.

I say good on you TheBusDriver – and thank you.

TheBusDriver has already stated that ratepayers do not underwrite the cost of free travel he allocates to people he judges to be down and out. Is this is code for he doesn’t work for ACTION or what?
If he doesn’t work for ACTION and the bus service isn’t his then whoever he works for is being ripped off. If he owns the bus then I will be the first to say “God bless him”.
I have often given a free ride (and a few bob) to people who are obviously in need. I have also been approached by dishevelled people in shopping centres asking for a few dollars to catch a bus to the next town centre. In every case I say “well I am driving there now so I can give you a lift”. The response is always expletive loaded abuse so I tend to be a bit cynical about some of these “homeless” people.
I notice those of you who critisize me on this issue haven’t explained why Shane Rattenbury has assumed the mantle of a CEO for an opportune publicity stunt.

Shane Rattenbury is a minister in the Labor/Green minority government, not the Chief Minister.
So, how come he is posing as a CEO?

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

I actually agree with a lot of what you say on Riotact, dunfungus. But not this time.

Its a bit harsh telling someone that helping the homeless (or anyone for that matter) while carrying out their paid job, is not acceptable.

This guy/girl is probably risking their job or a sanction by helping others in need. I’m sure as Ratepayers, we could all accept that.

I say good on you TheBusDriver – and thank you.

TheBusDriver has already stated that ratepayers do not underwrite the cost of free travel he allocates to people he judges to be down and out. Is this is code for he doesn’t work for ACTION or what?
If he doesn’t work for ACTION and the bus service isn’t his then whoever he works for is being ripped off. If he owns the bus then I will be the first to say “God bless him”.
I have often given a free ride (and a few bob) to people who are obviously in need. I have also been approached by dishevelled people in shopping centres asking for a few dollars to catch a bus to the next town centre. In every case I say “well I am driving there now so I can give you a lift”. The response is always expletive loaded abuse so I tend to be a bit cynical about some of these “homeless” people.
I notice those of you who critisize me on this issue haven’t explained why Shane Rattenbury has assumed the mantle of a CEO for an opportune publicity stunt.

Is he or is he not the leader of the Greens?

No, he is not leader of The Greens – he is “The (only) Green”. I guess you could say he leads himself as there are no other elected Greens in the ACT.
Note that CEO is an acronym for Chief Executive Officer. Mr Rattenbury is not a Chief.

No, he is not leader of The Greens – he is “The (only) Green”. I guess you could say he leads himself as there are no other elected Greens in the ACT.
Note that CEO is an acronym for Chief Executive Officer. Mr Rattenbury is not a Chief.

For the purpose of the exercise (which is in case you have forgotten, is to raise money for charity) would it suit you if next year it is called “The CEO (or similar) Sleepout”?

No, he is not leader of The Greens – he is “The (only) Green”. I guess you could say he leads himself as there are no other elected Greens in the ACT.
Note that CEO is an acronym for Chief Executive Officer. Mr Rattenbury is not a Chief.

For the purpose of the exercise (which is in case you have forgotten, is to raise money for charity) would it suit you if next year it is called “The CEO (or similar) Sleepout”?

I think the idea is to have the event exclusive only to CEOs who want to be seen as being able to be humble. They could raise the same amount of money without the moral vanity I think. I know a lot of people who do more for the homeless and disadvantaged without any acknowledgement.
It’s the same sort of stunt as 40 hour famine and lights off to save the earth etc.

I frequently hear or read interviews with people on the sleepout who are NOT CEOs, but somewhat further down the tree. It’s a buzz-slogan (my new word, no you can’t use it without paying royalties), not a literal description of the event.

Shane is neither the leader of The Greens nor the only Green. He’s the only Greens MLA.

And as for TheBusDriver allowing people to warm up on the bus – good on him. The extra fuel to carry that extra passenger would be almost unmeasurable. It’s costing no-one anything, and it’s potentially saving hospital visits for hypothermia or other illnesses related to being cold.

I frequently hear or read interviews with people on the sleepout who are NOT CEOs, but somewhat further down the tree. It’s a buzz-slogan (my new word, no you can’t use it without paying royalties), not a literal description of the event.

Shane is neither the leader of The Greens nor the only Green. He’s the only Greens MLA.

And as for TheBusDriver allowing people to warm up on the bus – good on him. The extra fuel to carry that extra passenger would be almost unmeasurable. It’s costing no-one anything, and it’s potentially saving hospital visits for hypothermia or other illnesses related to being cold.

IP

Unfortunately, Rattenbury, whatever his status is that makes you happy, is using this opportunity for political purposes which should not be allowed.
The Bus Driver is a well meaning but misguided person. It is not within his authority to decide who rides for free and who pays, is it. Have you seen recent articles about ACTION inreasing enforcement against fare evaders? I wonder why.
Also, you know diddly-squat about costs of running a bus.

Oh come on IP, Rattenbury is not a chief of anything in the strict definition or even the spirit of the expression ‘CEO’.

Evidence? He’s sleeping out with people who have, through talent, risen to the top of their organisation; other will have, through hard work and good management, be running their own successful companies.

Rattenbury has not even risen to the top of that fairly shallow talent pool that is the ACT Greens. Nor was he given a ministry through any talent.

He was simply the last man standing in the Greens near electoral wipeout – the Steven Bradbury of ACT politics. He only has power through a mathematical quirk.

The fact that he has used his luck to largely dictate the flavour of ACT politics – far beyond any mandate given to him by the electorate – is an arrogance typical of the Greens.

And good on the bus driver. I know that there is a large section of the community who quietly do good works every day, without sanctimoniously lecturing the rest of us on how noble they are.

Shane Rattenbury is a minister in the Labor/Green minority government, not the Chief Minister.
So, how come he is posing as a CEO?

And to TheBusDriver, that’s very noble of you to allow the homeless a free ride but you don’t own the bus service. If you want to claim that you are being charitable you should pay for the tickets out of your own pocket rather than share the cost amongst Canberra ratepayers.

I actually agree with a lot of what you say on Riotact, dunfungus. But not this time.

Its a bit harsh telling someone that helping the homeless (or anyone for that matter) while carrying out their paid job, is not acceptable.

This guy/girl is probably risking their job or a sanction by helping others in need. I’m sure as Ratepayers, we could all accept that.

I say good on you TheBusDriver – and thank you.

TheBusDriver has already stated that ratepayers do not underwrite the cost of free travel he allocates to people he judges to be down and out. Is this is code for he doesn’t work for ACTION or what?
If he doesn’t work for ACTION and the bus service isn’t his then whoever he works for is being ripped off. If he owns the bus then I will be the first to say “God bless him”.
I have often given a free ride (and a few bob) to people who are obviously in need. I have also been approached by dishevelled people in shopping centres asking for a few dollars to catch a bus to the next town centre. In every case I say “well I am driving there now so I can give you a lift”. The response is always expletive loaded abuse so I tend to be a bit cynical about some of these “homeless” people.
I notice those of you who critisize me on this issue haven’t explained why Shane Rattenbury has assumed the mantle of a CEO for an opportune publicity stunt.

I frequently hear or read interviews with people on the sleepout who are NOT CEOs, but somewhat further down the tree. It’s a buzz-slogan (my new word, no you can’t use it without paying royalties), not a literal description of the event.

Shane is neither the leader of The Greens nor the only Green. He’s the only Greens MLA.

And as for TheBusDriver allowing people to warm up on the bus – good on him. The extra fuel to carry that extra passenger would be almost unmeasurable. It’s costing no-one anything, and it’s potentially saving hospital visits for hypothermia or other illnesses related to being cold.

IP

Unfortunately, Rattenbury, whatever his status is that makes you happy, is using this opportunity for political purposes which should not be allowed.
The Bus Driver is a well meaning but misguided person. It is not within his authority to decide who rides for free and who pays, is it. Have you seen recent articles about ACTION inreasing enforcement against fare evaders? I wonder why.
Also, you know diddly-squat about costs of running a bus.

Since when has a politician (any politician) NOT used an event (any event) for political purposes?
They are creatures unto themselves and since we are not living in Korea North of the 38th parallel, they can and will do these things.
Situation normal, move along, nothing to see here…

I’m glad my article created some discussion and awareness about housing and homelessness in the ACT – this is one of the aims of the Sleep out. I%u2019d just like to add a few further comments in response.

Busdriver in particular talked about the complexity of governments response to the issues – the whole government ( and the broader community) need to think about jobs, training, education, mental health support and alcohol and other drugs counselling, and many other topics – all areas that intersect and cross over. I%u2019d like to think that we are doing some good work in all of these areas.

References to the Federal Government%u2019s policy direction is not intended to be “blaming the other side for everything.%u201D It is intended to highlight that at a national level, currently, there is a significant level of concern and uncertainty in the community (and amongst service providers) about where the Federal government is headed. Federal funding is a critical source of revenue for many service providers, and they are anxious to know whether funding will continue next year after only being provided a 12 month contract for the second year running for vital programs. Just so people know, it%u2019s not a partisan issues – this is the same situation the sector faced 2 years ago under the previous Labor government as well. The issue is about money and priorities.

And lastly – Most days I cycle to work, and I do catch buses to get to places too far away to cycle. I also drive a car at times.

We’ll Shane, I can’t say that you have changed my mind about the Greens, but I appreciate that you have taken the time to respond to some of the issues raised in this thread (and the one free-range eggs).

How many homeless could the money to be wasted on the light rail project house?

Perhaps they are homeless because they are dysfunctional or mentally ill? If they won’t or can’t live under a roof then no amount of money saved on tram fares will help them.

In some European cities the homeless actually sleep in trams left out of service overnight.
We could arrange that in Canberra. It would be a win-win outcome with the homeless getting shelter and Capital Metro increasing off-peak patronage. But they would be getting “free fares” you say?
So what, we have bus drivers who decide who pays and who doesn’t so why not trams as well?
Anyhow, public transport is supposed to run at a loss.